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MS annotation at top of first sheet: 'note found in copy of GWY's Roof Climber's Guide to Trinity Feb. 1986'. Text records that this copy was given by Young to Prof. Norman Collie, 'scientist, artist and sometime President of the Alpine Club' on its appearance, returning to him after Collie' s death.

Written as a 'May week joke, to appear during the festival days at Cambridge at the end of the summer Term', along the lines of G. O. Trevelyan's Horace at Athens etc. Written 'from memory' when Young was studying at Jena; the MS was sent to his friend A. M. Mackay, who 'drew the illustrations but did not alter the text'. Mackay checked the routes with Young's brother Hilton, who was 'so fascinated by the traverse over the ivy-clad arch into St. John's that he crossed it three times, outward'; arousing suspicion from the porters by returning after midnight via the locked Trinity Gate; subsequent enquiries led to Hilton Young and Mackay being sent down for the Long Vac.

Comments on the history of climbing in college: Edward Bowen 'broke out of the turret stairs' onto Chapel, and Byron 'got on to the Library roof, and decorated the statues', but again Young found he had not climbed up but broken onto a staircase.

Young's own explorations were between 1895 and 1899, with companions including F. M. Levi, Young's 'close friend' Christopher Wordsworth, Cyril Clague, W. W. Greg, [J.] F. Dobson, A. Wedgwood, and G. M. Trevelyan. Further climbs were carried out in 1901 and 1902.

In the autumn of 1901, the Vice-Master W. Aldis Wright determined 'that the College must take cognisance of Roof-climbing, and decide whether or not it should be made illegal'; two junior Fellows, G. M. Trevelyan and Gilbert Walker, were appointed to report on the matter, with power to co-opt Young as a non-resident member of committee; they 'did the climbs and circuits in full daylight, with two of our former enemies, the College Porters, carrying the fire-ropes behind us through the Courts, in procession! As a result of the official Report, the practice was made (officially) illegal'.

Comments on Roof-Climber's Guide to St John's, by 'two "Blues"', including Hartley, and the second edition of the Roof-Climber's Guide to Trinity which appeared in the 1930s

5 Barton St (on headed notepaper for National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, S.W.). - Called on Edward's mother this afternoon since he has been ordered to go abroad by his doctor; when he said that he was probably going to a village 'in the hills near Paestum to spend a month or two by himself', Mrs Marsh 'immediately decided' that Edward should go with him; says he said it was a long journey to take for a stay of three weeks, and that if Edward had wanted to go he would have proposed it himself; did not mention that a long stay alone 'with an individual who has theories on the state of the English language which... are tedious when repeated overmuch' would be tedious for him. Does say, though that he could 'conceive [of] nothing more delightful' than for Edward to come; he would be working much of the time, and hopes his temper would be better; would not go to see places except for Pompeii and Paestum which are near, but that would not stop Edward 'playing the giddy dog at Naples or Rome or M[onte] Carlo' as much as he liked. Is going to a village called Corpo di Cava recommended by Roger Fry, who has spent time painting there. Leaving on Tuesday; Mrs Marsh says that Edward could not leave until Wednesday, and he could wait till then or meet him in Paris, but cannot wait longer as he wants 'to get out of this damned fog'; tells Marsh to telegraph if he wants to come. Will 'accept any reasonable modification of place' but it must be 'hot and quiet'. Found Marsh's sister playing children's games with the Sunday school children; she was 'quite exhausted, and the canary was carried into the drawing room in a fit'. Tells Edward that if he saw Bob's last letter to his brother, he should read ' [John Frederick?] Dobson' for 'Drummond'.